Lifting device for articles



April 17, 1945.

J. J. MUELLER ET L LIFTING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES Filed March 12, 1943 f v VINVENTORSY ATT RNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1945 OFFICE LIFTING: FOR ARTICLES John J. Mueller and Charles 1'. Meyer,

lham, N. Y.

Application March 12, 1943, Serial No. 478,892

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a device for lifting articles in such a way that the articles are clamped by the device when lifting force is applied to lift them, so that the danger of the articles accidentally falling is obviated. Also, when the articles have been removed by the device to the desired place, such, for example, as to a car by which they are to be transferred, the lifting device is automatically disconnected from them when they are lowered into place.

The device is particularly useful for the purpose of handling coils of strip steel, but it is to be I understood that the invention is not restricted to this particular use as it may be used for diflerent sorts of articles that have surfaces or portions available that may be clamped between portions of the device one of which is movable with respect to the other so as to serve as a clamp or holding portion. I

The invention may be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

I that a graspable portion of it is between the ex- Fig. 1 is a side view of an illustrative embodi- V merit of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line a-a of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 11-1: of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, reference character I indicates a metal bar with notches 2 along one edge thereof. It is provided with a bolt 3 near one end by which it is pivoted between the spaced curved portions 4 of an arm 5. Holes 8 are provided along the arm 5 through which a bolt 1 passes for adjustment of a link 8 at different places along this arm, thus providing diflerent leverages. The link 8 is connected to the bolt I and carries a ring 9 to whicha hook) at the end of the chain I I may be attached. 7

A metal U-shaped member I5 is slidable on the bar I and the ends thereof are connected by straps I6 and bolts "and I8 to the extending portion I9 of the bifurcation 4Jof the arm 5.

A holding member 20 is adjustable along the bar I. It is provided with a diagonal opening or passageway 2| shown by dotted' lines in Fig. 1 so that the bar I can pass therethrough. The extent of this opening is such that when the member 20 is at right angles to the bar I,as shown in Fig. l, the corner. 22 catches in a notch 2 of the bar I, thus preventing it from moving to the right as seen in this figure. However, this holding member 20 can be adjustable along the bar I by first turning the holding member clockwise and sliding it in either direction.

The operation is as follows: The member 20 is adjusted along the bar I in accordance with the size of the article that is to be clamped between the members I5 and 20. The portion 22 in any notch 2 holds the member 20 in adjusted position so that pressure may be applied along the edge 24 without moving this member along the bar I. The device is then brought to the object that is to be handled so tending portions of the members I5 .and 20. The lever 4 is then turned on pivot 3 by applying force to the chain II, whereupon the slidable member I5 is moved along the bar I towards the member 20, thus clamping the object. As more force is applied to the chain II the clamping of the object between members I5 and 20 is auto-. matically increased proportionately to the weight of the object, so that the danger of heavy objects accidentally slipping out is no greater than when lighter objects are handled.

nected to said lever and said holding member being 'rectangularly shaped and having an opening j therethrough with upper and lower inner surface: of said opening at an. angle to its edges" JOHN J. Momma.

cmams r. 

